Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-03-14

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] There was no discussion for additional funding for Eastern Aegean islands, says EC spox

[02] Last section of Egnatia Motorway's Komotini-Makaza axis inaugurated on Tuesday

[03] New refugee and migrant centre to open near Thiva

[01] There was no discussion for additional funding for Eastern Aegean islands, says EC spox

Bertaud was responding to a question concerning press reports in Greece which claimed the islands affected by the refugee crisis had secured financial assistance totaling 50 million euros to boost growth.

"As you know, the five mayors of the Aegean islands – Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Leros and Kos – were in Brussels last week on 7 March and, as you say, they had several meetings here in the Commission. There was, however, no discussion regarding additional funding possibilities specifically for the islands," the spokeswoman said, adding that what was discussed was the possibility of organising a visit of European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Crețu to the islands to look at what is possible under the European Social Fund.

Bertaud also noted the Commission has already made available one billion euros in financial support for Greece to manage the migration situation through the Home Affairs funding and the Emergency funding strands, as well as through the Emergency Support Instrument.

"And as you know, a lot of this money is channeled to the central Greek authorities or to our international partners and NGOs working on the ground," she added.

[02] Last section of Egnatia Motorway's Komotini-Makaza axis inaugurated on Tuesday

The 17 klm Vertical Axis forms part of the Pan European Axis IX, connecting the Egnatia Motorway with the Makaza Border Checkpoint (Bulgaria) and the main road network of Bulgaria.

Speaking at the opening, Spirtzis said two more vertical axis roads which will connect Greece with Bulgaria remain to be built: one in Xanthi and one in Evros. The tender for the Xanthi section will be launched by the end of the month while in Evros the work by contractors "is progressing", he said.

The Evros axis will be delivered gradually in two sections, the first of which will be ready by the end of 2017 and the second a year later, or at the start of 2019.

[03] New refugee and migrant centre to open near Thiva

The new centre is expected to accept the first refugees in three or four weeks, while IOM will undertake to support its operation and Medecins du Monde will supply a pathologist, gynaecologist and dentist for the centre surgeries and a clinic.

The centre will have 65 apartments for eight people and roughly the same number of housing units in huts set up within the grounds. Each will have two bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room and some will have their own bathroom. The centre will also have areas for educational purposes, a room suitable for women, a counselling area and 60 toilets and showers.

Visiting the centre on Tuesday, Migration Policy Minister Yiannis Mouzalas noted that refugees and migrants would be able to live their in conditions of dignity.

"The centre is the result of a huge effort we are making," he added, noting that the effort to move from tents to small huts was underway in other camps as well.

Sources said the Thiva camp will be used to house refugees from Elliniko but the minister did not confirm the information when asked, saying that the government had not yet decided who would be taken there. "The transfers are carried out on the basis of a total plan. So whatever I say today will not be valid," he added.

Questioned about Turkey's threat to "re-examine" the EU-Turkey deal on migrant flows, Mouzalas stressed that the government was working toward the deal and supported the deal, "which is being observed up to this point."

Mouzalas was accompanied on his visit by IOM Deputy Director General Laura Thompson, the head of IOM Greece Daniel Esdras, SYRIZA MP Nikos Thiveos and local authority officials

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